Recreational Science

By Scientafic

RecSciPod: the podcast where laughable scientists discuss laughable science. Hosted by Lu and Tirth, physician-scientists who love to talk science and make each other laugh. In each episode, the two t... more

· Science

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FAQs about Recreational Science:

How many episodes does Recreational Science have?

The podcast currently has 22 episodes available.

Recreational Science episodes:

September 02, 2025Expensive placebos and making people smell their dogs
Placebos are not supposed to do anything, yet they kind of work. Well, then why not sell them at a high price like real medicine? Turns out, maybe that’s not such a bad question.
Dogs have fantastic noses and can identify their owners by smell. Can humans return the favor? Can dog owners identify their dogs by smell?
In this episode, Lu and Tirth discuss how more expensive placebos are more effective than cheaper ones and whether dog owners can recognize their dog’s smell.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:55 Dave talk; Tirth’s beef
5:38 Placebo studies
21:02 Dog smelling study
29:52 What did you learn today, outro
Article link:
Waber et al., 2008. Commercial features of placebo and therapeutic efficacy. Journal of the American Medical Association. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/181562
Espay et al., 2015. Placebo effect of medication cost in Parkinson disease: a randomized double-blind study. Neurology. https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000001282
Diaz-Lago et al., 2023. Expensive seems better: The price of a non-effective drug modulates its perceived efficacy. Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications. https://cognitiveresearchjournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s41235-023-00463-4
Wells et al., 2000. The discrimination of dog odours by humans. Perception. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1068/p2938
You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!
Follow us on social media @RecSciPod!
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@RecSciPod
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recscipod
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@recscipod
BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/recscipod.bsky.social
Theme music by Dasein: https://open.spotify.com/artist/77H3GPgYigeKNlZKGx11KZ
Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod)
...more
32min
August 19, 2025Size matters, in your pants and inside your head
Does size matter to women? What about height? These age-old questions have been asked by every man who has ever lived. What does science have to say?
Why do some animals become roadkill? Are they just dumb?
It’s episode 10! In this milestone episode, Lu and Tirth pay homage to some of the greatest scientists of all time, fiercely debate whether size matters to women when it comes to the attractiveness of men, and discuss whether brain size in birds correlates with the probability of getting run over by cars.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
2:49 Scientist quotes quiz
16:42 Penis size study
28:04 Bird brain study
35:51 What did you learn today, outro
Article links:
Mautz et al., 2013. Penis size interacts with body shape and height to influence male attractiveness. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1219361110
Moller et al., 2017. Brain size in birds is related to traffic accidents. Royal Society Open Science. https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.161040
You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!
Follow us on social media @RecSciPod!
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@RecSciPod
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recscipod
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@recscipod
BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/recscipod.bsky.social
Theme music by Dasein: https://open.spotify.com/artist/77H3GPgYigeKNlZKGx11KZ
Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod)
...more
38min
August 05, 2025Replying to SPAM emails for a free Vegas trip (special episode)
At scientific conferences where scientists gather to share data and ideas, a prominent scientist is usually invited to give the Keynote Talk, which is the headlining event of the conference. It’s a big honor. Has a graduate student ever received this honor?
In this special episode, Lu tells Tirth and Saran a story about the time he was invited to give the Keynote Talk at a scientific conference in Las Vegas as a graduate student.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:57 The email
28:35 The website/conclusion
34:50 What did you learn today, outro
Checkout the video version of the story on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/rvzz-wN0n_I
James Veitch TED talk links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o5hSxvN_-s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUjpoauJcKo
You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!
Follow us on social media @RecSciPod!
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@RecSciPod
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recscipod
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@recscipod
BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/recscipod.bsky.social
Theme music by Dasein: https://open.spotify.com/artist/77H3GPgYigeKNlZKGx11KZ
Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod)
...more
40min
July 22, 2025Kids think bacon and hot dogs are plants
Do kids know where the food they eat comes from? More specifically, do they know whether food comes from plants or animals?
In this episode, Lu quizzes Tirth on some of the wackiest scientific journal titles, and the two discuss how American children cannot tell whether foods are animals or plants.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
2:22 Watermelon
6:04 Wacky scientific journal title quiz
16:46 Kids food study
38:32 What did you learn today, outro
Article link:
Hahn et al., 2021. Children are unsuspecting meat eaters: An opportunity to address climate change. Journal of Environmental Psychology. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494421001584?via%3Dihub
You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!
Follow us on social media @RecSciPod!
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@RecSciPod
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recscipod
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@recscipod
BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/recscipod.bsky.social
Theme music by Dasein: https://open.spotify.com/artist/77H3GPgYigeKNlZKGx11KZ
Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod)
Lu's song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbaEdm5hLaY
...more
41min
July 08, 2025Dogs are somewhat magnetic and do elephants yawn?
How are dogs so good at navigation? Can they sense the earth’s magnetic field? How can you measure this?
Elephants are intelligent and noble beasts. Do they yawn though?
In this episode, Lu and Tirth discuss whether dogs can sense the earth’s magnetic field when they poop and whether elephants yawn.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:59 Tirth’s run-in with the TSA
8:41 Dog magnetism study
20:54 Elephant yawning study
32:45 What did you learn today, outro
Article links:
Hart et al., 2013. Dogs are sensitive to small variations of the Earth’s magnetic field. Frontiers in Zoology. https://frontiersinzoology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1742-9994-10-80
Rossman et al., 2017. When Yawning Occurs in Elephants. Frontiers in Veterinary Research. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2017.00022/full
You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!
Follow us on social media @RecSciPod!
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@RecSciPod
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recscipod
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@recscipod
BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/recscipod.bsky.social
Theme music by Dasein: https://open.spotify.com/artist/77H3GPgYigeKNlZKGx11KZ
Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod)
...more
35min
June 24, 2025Manspreading for Tinder and scaring goats with helicopters
Why do men manspread? Do women on dating apps prefer men who manspread their legs (and arms) in their profile pictures?
Are goats brave? Can the Dutch air force scare goats using attack helicopters?
In this episode, Lu tests Tirth's knowledge of the people with a "family feud" style game and the two discuss how to get likes on Tinder and an attempt to scare goats using air force helicopters.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
2:10 Science-themed "family feud" style game
16:39 Manspreading Tinder study
30:55 Goat helicopter study
42:34 What did you learn today, outro
Article links:
Vacharkulksemsuk et al., 2016. Dominant, open nonverbal displays are attractive at zero-acquaintance. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.1508932113
van der Staay et al., 2011. Physiological and behavioral reactions elicited by simulated and real-life visual and acoustic helicopter stimuli in dairy goats. BMC Veterinary Research. https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1746-6148-7-16
You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!
Follow us on social media @RecSciPod!
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@RecSciPod
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recscipod
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@recscipod
BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/recscipod.bsky.social
Theme music by Dasein: https://open.spotify.com/artist/77H3GPgYigeKNlZKGx11KZ
Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (⁠https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod⁠)
...more
45min
June 10, 2025Double dipping and using mirrors for itch relief
Why is double dipping frowned upon? Does it actually transfer oral bacteria from the chip to the dip?
Scratching an itch is bad for the skin. What if you can relieve an itch on one arm by scratching your other arm while tricking your brain with a mirror?
In this episode, Lu and Tirth review research ideas from ChatGPT and discuss the microbiology of double dipping and how to scratch an itch using a mirror.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
2:21 Evaluating research proposals from ChatGPT
18:18 Double dipping study
28:14 Mirror scratching study
35:53 What did you learn today, outro
Article links:
Trevino et al., 2009. Effect of biting before dipping (double-dipping) chips on the bacterial population of the dipping solution. Journal of Food Safety. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1745-4565.2008.00137.x
Helmchen et al., 2013. Itch Relief by Mirror Scratching. A Psychophysical Study. PLoS One. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0082756
You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!
Follow us on social media @RecSciPod!
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@RecSciPod
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recscipod
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@recscipod
BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/recscipod.bsky.social
Theme music by Dasein: https://open.spotify.com/artist/77H3GPgYigeKNlZKGx11KZ
Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (⁠https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod⁠)
...more
38min
May 27, 2025Immoral meat and rubbing chickens into beards
To some people, eating meat is immoral. It’s a subjective opinion. However, does eating meat make you immoral objectively?
Should hippies be allowed to work in a microbiology laboratory? Are their beards and long hair a contamination risk? How can chickens be used in this study?
In this episode, Lu gives Tirth an opportunity to redeem himself with another science quiz, and the two discuss how eating meat actually makes you immoral, according to science, and how to trick hippies into shaving their beards.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:45 Tirth takes another science trivia quiz
13:39 Meat eating study
22:52 Beard microbiology study
32:11 What did you learn today, outro
Article links:
Loughnan et al., 2010. The role of meat consumption in the denial of moral status and mind to meat animals. Appetite. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195666310003648?via%3Dihub
Barbeito et al., 1967. Microbiological laboratory hazard of bearded men. Applied Microbiology. https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/am.15.4.899-906.1967
You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!
Follow us on social media @RecSciPod!
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@RecSciPod
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recscipod
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@recscipod
BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/recscipod.bsky.social
Theme music by Dasein: https://open.spotify.com/artist/77H3GPgYigeKNlZKGx11KZ
Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (⁠https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod⁠)
...more
34min
May 13, 2025Swimming in syrup and fake drunk confidence
If you replace the water in a swimming pool with syrup and convince some of your colleagues to swim in it, will they swim slower or faster?
Drunk people find others and themselves more attractive. However, do people tricked into believing they are drunk also find themselves more attractive?
In this episode, Lu quizzes Tirth on his science knowledge and the two discuss how fast humans swim in syrup and how to gain confidence by tricking yourself into thinking you are drunk.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:08 Tirth takes a science trivia quiz
11:33 Swimming study
21:18 Fake drunk study
33:08 What did you learn today, outro
Article links:
Gettelfinger & Cussler, 2004. Will humans swim faster or slower in syrup? AIChE Journal. https://aiche.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aic.10389
Begue et al., 2012. ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder’: People who think they are drunk also think they are attractive. British Journal of Psychology. https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.2044-8295.2012.02114.x
You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!
Follow us on social media @RecSciPod!
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@RecSciPod
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recscipod
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@recscipod
BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/recscipod.bsky.social
Theme music by Dasein: https://open.spotify.com/artist/77H3GPgYigeKNlZKGx11KZ
Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (⁠https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod⁠)
...more
35min
April 22, 2025Sheep shearing and how to publish anything
Sheep shearing is hard, especially the step where you drag sheep around. What type of flooring is easiest to drag sheep on? There’s only one way to find out.
Every scientist has asked the following question: how do I publish whatever I want in a peer-reviewed journal? Can I publish my personal blog?
In this episode, Lu and Tirth discuss the hazards of sheep shearing and how to publish anything you want...if you’re the editor-in-chief of a journal.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:30 Lu’s afternoon beef
9:22 Sheep shearing study
22:40 How to publish anything
31:47 Let’s read some mail
34:14 What did you learn today, outro
Article links:
Harvey et al., 2002. An analysis of the forces required to drag sheep over various surfaces. Applied Ergonomics. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003687002000716?via%3Dihub
McCrory, 2006. Who says you cannot get published? British Journal of Sports Medicine. https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/40/2/95.long
McCrory, 2006. Yo Ho Ho and a bottle of rum. British Journal of Sports Medicine. https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/40/10/815
You can find Recreational Science (#RecSciPod) everywhere great podcasts are found!
Follow us on social media @RecSciPod!
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@RecSciPod
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/recscipod
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@recscipod
BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/recscipod.bsky.social
Theme music by Dasein: https://open.spotify.com/artist/77H3GPgYigeKNlZKGx11KZ
Recreational Science is produced by Scientafic (⁠https://www.scientafic.com/recscipod⁠)
...more
36min

FAQs about Recreational Science:

How many episodes does Recreational Science have?

The podcast currently has 22 episodes available.